Hanks: A ‘sweet’ business idea for Vernon Park Mall

By Bryan C. Hanks / Managing Editor

Published: Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 06:05 PM.

In this space last week, I implored folks from Lenoir County to keep their money here in our little patch o’ heaven, instead of spending it in Greenville, New Bern, Goldsboro, Jacksonville and other cities.

I asked you, dear reader, to consider making your major purchases — cars, etc. — here in Lenoir County instead of somewhere else, because the money you spend here stays here.

That not only goes for major purchases but for what you might consider “minor” purchases, including eating out, clothes and groceries.

Today, I’m going to float an idea to spur shopping in Kinston (specifically at Vernon Park Mall) and then share with you a pair of small businesses here you should check out.

MOVE SWEETFROG TO VERNON PARK MALL: This idea is so simple and genius, I’m surprised I came up with it. In the past year, there has not been a better small business success story in Lenoir County than sweetFrog, which opened in the Kinston Plaza in December.

For those unfamiliar with sweetFrog, it’s a do-it-yourself soft serve frozen yogurt shop that has been extremely successful in Kinston. You pick out your favorite yogurt, than have several dozen toppings to choose from to complete your tasty dessert.

In the interest of full disclosure, I’m a huge fan of sweetFrog. I’ve already filled up one frequent user card and am almost to the end of a second.

In this space last week, I implored folks from Lenoir County to keep their money here in our little patch o’ heaven, instead of spending it in Greenville, New Bern, Goldsboro, Jacksonville and other cities.

I asked you, dear reader, to consider making your major purchases — cars, etc. — here in Lenoir County instead of somewhere else, because the money you spend here stays here.

That not only goes for major purchases but for what you might consider “minor” purchases, including eating out, clothes and groceries.

Today, I’m going to float an idea to spur shopping in Kinston (specifically at Vernon Park Mall) and then share with you a pair of small businesses here you should check out.

MOVE SWEETFROG TO VERNON PARK MALL: This idea is so simple and genius, I’m surprised I came up with it. In the past year, there has not been a better small business success story in Lenoir County than sweetFrog, which opened in the Kinston Plaza in December.

For those unfamiliar with sweetFrog, it’s a do-it-yourself soft serve frozen yogurt shop that has been extremely successful in Kinston. You pick out your favorite yogurt, than have several dozen toppings to choose from to complete your tasty dessert.

In the interest of full disclosure, I’m a huge fan of sweetFrog. I’ve already filled up one frequent user card and am almost to the end of a second.

In the many times I’ve visited the establishment — or gone through the parking lot at Kinston Plaza — I’ve never seen less than three customers at a time in it; many times, there are at least seven to 10 folks lining up for their sweetFrog.

That’s why I think the powers-that-be in town should do everything they can to get the owners to move sweetFrog to Vernon Park Mall. Frankly, it would be a win-win for everyone involved (well, except for the folks who run Kinston Plaza); the mall and its remaining stores need foot traffic and sweetFrog would bring that. It would benefit the owners of sweetFrog, who would have more room for folks to enjoy their product.

Obviously, it would benefit the mall more than it would sweetFrog, though, which leads me to this: give the sweetFrog owners a break on rent. The demographics the mall craves — young people with money — would swarm the mall and again make it a destination point. Heck, this move might even encourage other restaurants to return to Vernon Park Mall, and we’d all benefit from that.

On Facebook and Twitter, I asked folks to give me some small businesses to check out and promote in this week’s column.

Michelle Moore Davis suggested DRAKE JANITORIAL SERVICE. She said the company is a family-owned commercial cleaning business that has been around for 53 years. It specializes in general cleaning and maintaining all kinds of commercial, industrial buildings, schools and churches. Find out more about it by searching Drake Janitorial Service on Facebook.

Kay Oakes Boykin asked me to check out HAMMER OUT CROSSFIT at 1201-J West Vernon Ave. She said Hammer Out is the only facility of its type in a 30-mile radius. I haven’t been there yet, but can’t wait to see it.

To reiterate what I stated last week: it’s vitally important for us to support our small businesses right here in Lenoir County. If we don’t, we have no excuse to whine about there being nowhere to shop or eat.

Bryan C. Hanks is the managing editor of The Free Press; his column appears in this space every Sunday. You can reach him at 252-559-1074 or at Bryan.Hanks@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at BCHanks.